Environmental microbiology and biotechnology research group
Our research is focused on the response of microbial communities to anthropogenic and natural stressors in different environments. One of the main goals of our research is to determine the key microbial species and metabolic pathways responsible for the degradation of various hydrocarbon compounds of oil in different marine compartments (aerobic and anaerobic water, sediments and shoreline) of the Baltic Sea and Arctic marine environments. Besides, we conduct studies in the field of structural and functional adaptation of soil and plant microbiomes in response to climate and land-use change in subarctic and boreal ecosystems. We also study the structure and abundance of antibiotic resistome in different biotechnological applications. The phylogenetic diversity and functional potential of water, soil and plant-related microbial communities and the expression of the genes are assessed by amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics and metatranscriptomics.
- Widera, B., Tyszkiewicz, N., Truu, J., Rutkowski, P., Młynarz, P., Pasternak, G. Relationship between biodiversity and power generated by anodic bacteria enriched from petroleum-contaminated soil at various potentials. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, Volume 194, 2024
- Tyszkiewicz, N., Truu, J., Młynarz, P., Pasternak, G. The influence of benzene on the composition, diversity and performance of the anodic bacterial community in glucose-fed microbial fuel cells. Frontiers in Microbiology, Volume 15, 2024
- Rantanen, N. K., Reunamo, A., Kjellberg, M. A., Rumbin, O., Truu, J., Kiljunen, H., … Vanninen, P. (2024). Transformation of phenylarsenic chemical warfare agents and their effect on bacterial communities in Baltic Sea sediment. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 464, 132935
- Menert, Anne & Korb, Triin & Orupõld, Kaja & Teemusk, Alar & Sepp, Holar & Mander, Ülo & Ilmjärv, Tanel & Truu, Jaak & Paiste, Päärn & Kirsimäe, Kalle & Menert, Terje & Kamenev, Inna & Heinaru, Eeva & Heinaru, Ain & Sipp, Sirli & Kivisaar, Maia. (2023). Methanogenesis and metal leaching on anaerobic decomposition of graptolite argillite. Environmental Technology & Innovation. 31
- Marcos-Zambrano, L. J., Karaduzovic-Hadziabdic, K., Loncar Turukalo, T., Przymus, P., Trajkovik, V., Aasmets, O., … Truu, J. (2021). Applications of Machine Learning in Human Microbiome Studies: A Review on Feature Selection, Biomarker Identification, Disease Prediction and Treatment. Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol. 12, p. 313
- Tiirik, K., Nõlvak, H., Truu, M., Peeb, A., Kõiv-Vainik, M., & Truu, J. (2021). The Effect of the Effluent from a Small-Scale Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plant Treating Municipal Wastewater on the Composition and Abundance of the Microbial Community, Antibiotic Resistome, and Pathogens in the Sediment and Water of a Receiving Stream. Water 2021, 13(6), 865
- The Effect of the Effluent from a Small-Scale Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plant Treating Municipal Wastewater on the Composition and Abundance of the Microbial Community, Antibiotic Resistome, and Pathogens in the Sediment and Water of a Receiving Stream. Water, 13(6), 865
- Truu, M., Nõlvak, H., Ostonen, I., Oopkaup, K., Maddison, M., Ligi, T., … Truu, J. (2020). Soil bacterial and archaeal communities and their potential to perform N-cycling processes in soils of boreal forests growing on well-drained peat. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 3112
- Kanger, K., Guilford, N. G. H., Lee, H. W., Nesbø, C. L., Truu, J., & Edwards, E. A. (2020). Antibiotic resistome and microbial community structure during anaerobic co-digestion of food waste, paper and cardboard. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 96(2)
- Jørgensen, K. S., Kreutzer, A., Lehtonen, K. K., Kankaanpää, H., Rytkönen, J., Wegeberg, S., … Wang, F. (2019). The EU Horizon 2020 project GRACE: integrated oil spill response actions and environmental effects. Environmental Sciences Europe, 31(1), 44
Läänemere reostusi võivad aidata tõrjuda naftasööjast bakterid
Jaak Truu, professor of microbiology at the University of Tartu, states that very little research has been done on the bacteria that break down oil in the Baltic Sea. This is currently the subject of his five-member study group. Although such organisms come in handy in pollution control, the targeted application of bacteria, he said, is by no means easy. Nevertheless, they have been used in the world in the past in the event of oil spills and the possibility of their genetic modification is still being explored.
Estonian Public Broadcast Novaator 17.01.2024
MUNIMAP: Baltic Sea Munition Remediation Roadmap
Project scope: 2024 – 2027
Research programme: Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme
Contamination of the Baltic Sea by dumped munitions poses a serious risk to marine life and impedes maritime economy. Authorities struggle with remediation due to unclear legal frameworks, lack of resources, and technical uncertainties in munitions disposal without causing harm. Despite progress in the Baltic Sea Region, national debates are at varying stages. MUNIMAP aims to expedite and coordinate these processes by creating a flexible roadmap for munitions remediation in the Baltic Sea, addressing policy, administration, and remediation methods, developed in collaboration with target user groups. Managing marine munitions is intricate but crucial to mitigate environmental impact, requiring precise steps for finding, classifying, and safely disposing of them using best available techniques and environmental practices.